Missing silicone

[capt]

I am noticing some cavitation at higher rpms. Mainly when I am pulling a big 3 person tube and am punching it out of a turn.

I noticed some silicone missing from the intake grates would this be the cause?

 

[D&S232]

Very possible! One Saturday after being on the water for a solid hour I suddenly had cavitation on my port side and could not figure it out so I trailer-ed the boat at noon (out of town of course). I got it home and disassembled the impeller housing and found nothing. I took a flashlight and shined it into where the impeller shaft gear connects and saw something small. I fished it out with a wire hanger....SILICONE very thin, about the size of my index fingerprint. Put it all back together and it's been perfect since!

 

[Scottintexas]

And you may look further in the tunnel, i had silicone but it wasn't sticky so when i powered up it pulled away from the hull